Re: Astro Imaging newbie -- Film or CCD

"MonroeAstro" <msimmonsm...@xxxxxxxxx>

> Being that I am just starting out, my focus is on
> wide field shots. I don't think my mount would hold
> up well enough for prime focus. It just seems to me,
> that all of the truly great photos that are displayed
> in mags and books are either taken with film, or $10K+
> CCD cameras.

You can still take excellent pictures with film, and
your initial outlay may in fact be zero - lots of folks
have 35mm SLR cameras lying around that they bought
in the 1970s but never quite figured out how to use.
Or have since abandoned because digital is trendier.

My first astronomical camera was a Pentax Spotmatic I
bought for $20, and it takes excellent pictures. My
first medium format astronomical pictures were courtesy
an old folding camera I bought on EBay. Both have spent
lots of time on my barn door tracker.

I can't quite figure out why, but while I like what my
Digital Rebel does at prime focus, I very much prefer
the look of film for wide-field work. My Spotmatic and
OM-1 both take excellent pictures, and what I get from my
Pentax 67 is just plain spectacular. I have high hopes
for the 4x5 astrograph I'm working on. Those Aero-Ektar
lenses are *heavy*...

Regardless of the imaging technology, you need a stable
mount, and you need to know how to align and guide it
accurately. Get that right first with whatever imaging
technology you can lay your hands on.

Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre
Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..."
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte

.

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